We all appreciate the chance to go to the theatre more often. There are some wonderful venues around the country and some really superb drama companies whose interpretations of old classics and brand new material are well worth seeing. However, the theatre is something most people like to experience in good company and this makes […]

Despite efforts to revitalise its fortunes back in February by including it in an arts festival, the Derby Playhouse is still in dire straits.

The theatre has been in administration for months ever since the city council and Arts Council withdrew funding over doubts about the competence of the management team.

Although the Arts Council have demanded a return of the one million pounds they have previously granted the Playhouse, they have agreed to suspend their claim for a while due to a legal challenge.

Although it has been closed for months, the playhouse hopes to open to the public again, as this is the only way it can possible earn back the money already spent on it – unless it goes into receivership and is sold on (which would be a shame). The theatre trust said that it is looking into ways to re-open the playhouse, but that whatever they do have to be approved jointly by their creditors and the administrator.

Stephen Edwards, artistic director of the Playhouse, has said: “We were dead, if the Arts Council had succeeded, whereas now we are crunching the numbers and we’ve got a fairly high-powered team of finance advisers working alongside us. And they’re beginning to make more and more positive noises.”

Perhaps there’s hope yet for the beleaguered Playhouse?